Device for sounding purposes and for measurements of distance by the reflected sound of a submarine signal received on shipboard



Feb, 20, 1934. A. E. BLONDEL ,9 8, DEVICE FOR SOUNDING PURPOSES AND FOR MEASUREMENTS OFDISTANCE BY THE REFLECTED SOUND OF A SUBMARINE SIGNAL RECEIVED ON SHIPBOARD Original Filed Jan. 18. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ANDRE EUGENE BLONDEL Attorneys Feb 20, 1934. I BLQNDEL 1,948,253 DEVICE FOR SOUNDING PURPOSES AND FOR MEASUREMENTS OF DISTANCE BY THE REFLECTED SOUND OF A SUBMARINE SIGNAL RECEIVED 0N SHIPBOARD Original Filed Jan. 18. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll IIIIIN HIIIII; N

ANDRE EUGENE BLONDEL yflumdfl QAttom eys Q liwvenfar. if.

Patented Feb. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT. oFFicE Andr Eugene Blondel, Paris, France Original application January 18, 1922, Serial No.

530,146, now abandoned, and in Divided and this application May 3,

Germany June 1928. Serial No. 274,862

10 Claims. (Cl. 177386)- This application is divided from my prior application Serial Number 530,146, filed January 18, 1922, but now abandoned, and relates to distance measuring apparatus of the class in which the time elapsing between'the emission of a sound and the reception of the echo caused by its reflection from the object whereof thedistance is to be measured, is determined by observing the angle traversed by an element moving at a constant known speed. Apparatus of this class is employed for measuring the depth of the sea and other bodies of water, the distance of mountains, icebergs, and other objects capable of reflecting sound, from an observing station.

My present invention has foran objectto provide an apparatus of this class more particularly suitable in the case of sounding operations carried out in comparatively shallow situations.

The invention employs the observation of two signals, whereof one corresponds to the starting shock and the other to the return shock, and the method of coincidences as applied to these two signals. The invention comprises the use of luminous signals and of a device for the emission of sounds, for example the explosion of cartridges or torpedoes by means of a mechanism connected with the movement of a device serving for the comparison of the signals. The invention also comprises a modified form of the preceding device wherein the sound ,producing element consists of a vibrating body instead of cartridges or torpedoes. Other objects of the invention will be set forth in a more explicit manner in the following description.

The accompanying drawings which are given by way of example set forth various embodiments of my invention wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, more or less diagrammatic, of one form of the invention.

- or signal.

Figure 4 is a detail view of a portion of Figure 2 showing the manner in which the brush holders "may be shifted upon a scale.

In Figure 1 is represented one form of the invention wherein a total reflection prism mirror 0 is mounted upon an arm L rigidly carried by a shaft A and is revoluble in a plane perpendicular to the axis X-Y of the shaft A which is rotated by a constantspee'd motor K. A stationary screen B of an opaque or translucent character is perpendicular to the axis X--'-Y and receives from the mirror a the rays reflected upon thelatter by a second mirrora actuated by a galvanometer g which forms part of the receiving apparatus and is itself actuated through the secondary circuit 2 of a transformer T by the current supplied to the primary circuit 3 of said transformer by a battery e, a microphone d and a rheostat I being inserted in said primary circuit 3. r r 7 The constant speed motor K which drives the shaft A of themirror a. may be of the clockwork type, or an electric motor operating at a speed maintained constantby any known means.

The galvanometer g is secured to the revoluble shaft A and the mirror a actuated thereby oscillates about an axis perpendicular to the axis XY and is also inclined at about 45? in order to reflect upon the mirror a the rays proceeding from the center of the filament of an incandescent lamp 7' which is also mounted upon the revoluble shaft A. The normal position of the mirror 0,

is such that it will not reflect light from the lamp convenient manner as will readily be appreciated by thosev skilled in the art. The galvanometer may be the diaphragm of a telephone receiver having the mirror secured thereto at a certain distance from the center, according to Frohlichs method i. e., so that, upon the movement of said diaphragm, the mirror is simultaneously moved in such fashion that the light falling thereon is flung out and acts as a pointer in the manner of the mirror galvanometer. As stated above,

associated with the galvanometer is the microphone d of any known type, supplied with current by the battery e, through the circuit 3 which also contains the regulating rheostat f, whereby the A. C. voltage is conducted to the coils of the galvanometer 9 through the transformer T.

The shaft A is driven by the motor K through a pair of pinions K K and rigidly carries a disc or drum L of insulating material having a transverse contact segment M let into its periphery. A stationary L-shaped arm P is provided with a pair of brushes N which engage the periphery of the drum L and upon contacting with the III contact segment M close an ignition circuit 4, 5 supplied with current by a battery 6 for firing a' torpedo or cartridge R to produce a starting sig- The'shocks produced in the water by the firing of a torpedo will cause a sudden variation of current in the galvanometer thereby rotating the mirror a which through the mirror I. reflects a spot of light upon the screen-B the position of which is noted. Upon the returnof the echo or sound waves reflected from the sea. bottom or other object to the device, another variation of the galvanometer current takes place and a second 'spot of light is reflected upon the screen.

A modified form ,of the invention is shown in Figure 2 in which the revoluble mirror is replaced by a stationary ring-shaped mirror a having a conical reflecting surface with reference to 62 having therein as shown an aperture or slit 69.

disposed in the axis X-Y and-in the case of a slit-.perpendicular to the plane of reflection (passing through 62, a a,) of the rays falling upon the revoluble mirror a actuated by the galvanometer g. As before, the latter may be of any suitable type and is illustrated by the usual diagrammatic symbol, while the mirror a may "be mounted in any convenient manner for actuation by the galvanometer to produce the rapid j movement thereof under the action of a micro- The galvanometer 9 will receive the current from phone-current. The lens 63 with 'generatrices parallel to the plane X--Y a a, will concentrate the rays from a at a point upon the screen B.

the microphone d by means of the friction contact members 10 which are insulated from the,

revoluble shaft A. The normal position of the mirror a is such that it does not reflect light ion to the screen 13.

Figure 2also illustrates various accessory devices actuated by the motor or by one of several auxiliary shafts X' Y, X"-Y", X'Y'-' In the first place, the arrangement comprises a rev- .oluble lever 53 for sending the current through the ignition circuit to the torpedoes, the said lever being rotated with the shaft.X"Y"' by a gear wheel 2 engaging a pinion 19 mounted 1 upon the countershaft XY'. circuit is represented by 50, 51, 56, r, 54, S, 53, 52,

The explosion 33, inwhich 51 represents the secondary of a step-up transformer whose primary 81 is energized by a battery Q; 52 is a metal cylinder which is electrically insulated and is revoluble with the shaft X'-Y", it being connected to the circuit by a frictioncontact 33. To the cylinder 52' is secured the lever 53 passing over the various contact segments S (Fig. 3) mounted upon an insulating base, each segmeritlbeing connected 7 to a separate wire 54 terminating'at a cartridge or torpedo 1'. plurality of torpedoes each having a separate return wire 54, and in this manner when the member 52 is rotated upon by the wheel 2, the axis X"'Y" the lever 53 will cause the current to 'passin succession into the various torpedoes to explode the same. The contact segments S are so disposed that each contact piece cooperates with thelever arm The wire 56. may be common to a 53 after-a stated and constant number of revolutions of the shaft A and contact will be made at each contact S in successionf Now, in order to fire a cartridge, it is,.of course, necessary for arm or brush 53 to be in contact with the particular contact S corresponding with the cartridge to be exploded at the same time that brushes N 'engagecontact M. But inasmuch as arm or brush 53 moves rather slowly, it remains in contact'with the segment S for a relatively long time, while on the other hand, contact M moves relatively fast so that it makes only momentary contact with brushes N.

Contact M thus governs the actual time of firing the torpedo by effectivelya closing its circuit while arm 53 closes and maintains its circuit closed. The time at which M momentarily closes its circuit can be varied within comparatively wide limits and still be effective in closing its circuit. while arm 53 yet remains in contact with the contact segment S and closes the circuit corresponding therewith.

To relieve the galvanometer of sudden impulses produced by the starting wave and to preserve great sensitiveness for the reflected wave, the shaft A may also havemounted thereon an iiisulating cylinder L similar to the cylinder L and provided in like manner with a conducting segment M cooperatingwith a pair of brushes N carried by a stationary holder P and which form part of a circuit 88, 89 connectedin shunt on the galvanometer g and containing a regulating rheostat, F 'Byshifting the disk L about the shaft-A in such manner that the brushes N are cross-connected by the segment M at the moment of firing the torpedo and if the segment M is wide enough, the galvanometer 9 will then be shunted by the resistance F during the action of the explosion or of the sound of a bell, and by a suitable adjustment of F, the observer may reduce at will the sudden and strong current sent at this moment into the galvanometer and may even reduce it to zero by giving the resistance F a zero value.

Describing now the operation of the apparatus in Fig. 2, as soon as the motor K starts up, the drum L and the arm 53 are. rotated so that the contact segment M engages the brushes N simultaneously with the engagement of the arm 53 with of all to complete a primary circuit as follows:

First brush N, lead 80, primary coil 81 of stepup transformer, battery Q,,lead 82, second brush N, and contact segment M. Upon completion of this circuit there is caused a current impulse which induces a current in the secondary coil 51 01 the step-up transformer, which induced current passes through the closed secondary circ'uit as follows: Coil 51, lead 56, one torpedo r, the corresponding lead 54 and contact segment S arm 53, drum 52 wipe .contact 33, lead 50. The completion of the last circuit fires the selected torpedo r and the shocks thus produced in the water cause a sudden variation of current in the galvanometer '9 through the action of the det- 14b onation upon themicrophone d. This sudden variation of current in thegalvanometer circuit causes a deflection of thefgalva'nometer needle and a consequent deflection of them'irror a into a position so that it reflects light fromthe are 60 I and causes a flash to appear upon the screen B, the position of which is noted. The galvanometer circuit is as follows; Microphone d, battery e, 'lead 83, first contact 10, lead 84, galvanometer fiflead 85, second contact 10, lead 86, rheostat f, m

lead 87. Owing to the shunt circuit comprising lead 88, rheostat F first brush N contact M second brush N lead 89, sudden impulses upon the galvanometer are relieved or reduced to zero.

The gear reductions 15, 13 between the shafts A and X'Y' and 19, 2 between said latter and the shaft X-Y"', carrying the arm 53, are such that, after completion of a. determined number of turns of the shaft A, when the contact M meets again the brushes N, said arm 53 is then shifted angularly into a position in which it makes contact with the following segment S,

' which permits of the firing of a subsequent torpedo. In either of the embodiments shown in Figures 1 or 2, instead of reading the distance to be measured directly upona scale by means of the relative positions of two flashes thereon produced respectively by each of the emitted sounds and their echoes, the method of coincidence may be applied to the emission of two subsequent audible signals for this purpose. To effect this, use is made of an angularly adjustable brush holder P and of means (not shown) permitting the measurement of said angular adjustment. The operation is then as follows: A first torpedo is first fired by means of the ignition circuit as stated above and the position of the luminous fiash produced thereby upon the screen B is noted. The position of the brush-holder P is then moved angularly so that the fiash produced by the echo of a subsequent torpedo, through the medium of its effect upon the microphone d,

. is coincident upon the screen with the 'flash produced by the firing of the first torpedo. The

angular'distance travelled by the angularly adjustable brush-holder P to effect this coincidence is then measured on the graduated scale 100 as a function of the distance away of the object producing the echo or reflected sound or signal.

Figure 2 shows also an arrangement wherein the constant reduction gearing 15, 13 and 17, 12

' wide enough to remain engaged with the wheelsbetween the motor, K and the revoluble' shaft A may be replaced by a change-speed-gear set op-- 'erated by the simple movement of a lever (not shown) as in the case ofmotor vehicles in order to provide for two or three different speeds, and in this manner the operator can vary the sensitiveness of the observation according to the depth of the sea. It will be advisable for instance to use a speed of rotation for the mirrors such that the reflected wave shall accomplish one revolutionper second in the case of measure-- ments at depths reaching 1500 meters; if the diameter of the circle projected on the screen is 4'77 millimeters, the spot of light will describe a circle of 1500 millimeters per second in the disposition Figure 1. In this case l meterdepth in the sea willcorrespond to 1 millimeter uponthe screen. For smaller depths, the speed of rotation may be increased, using for instance the speed of three revolutionsper second for depths of 500 meters, thus affording 1 meter per 3 millimeters 17 and 2 respectively while the gear wheels 13, 15 will be disengaged and the wheels 14, 16

engaged. v m

3 The arrangement as hereinbefore described may be completed by the addition of various ac-- 1. Distance measuring apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, sound emitting means, a timing device causing repetition of the emitted sounds at uniform intervals,

a circular translucent scale. and means for producing luminous flashes upon said scale to indicate both the emitted sounds and their echoes, an adjustable member associated with the timing device for permitting detections of said sounds and echos at coincident phases of the operation of the timing device thereby causing the luminous flashes producedby. the emitted sounds and their echosto coincide on the scale,

means for indicating and measuring the angular displacement of the adjustable member to produce such phase coincidence as a function of the distance to be measured. t

2. Distancemeasuring apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a sound emitter, a timing device causing repetition of the emitted sounds at uniform intervals, a circular translucent scale, a shaft rotating. at constant speed, a galvanometer. carried by said shaft, .a microphone actuated by the emitted sounds and their'echos thereby causing the galvanometer to throw luminous indicator flashes upon the scale thereby detecting the sounds and echos, an adjustable member associated with the timing device for permitting detections of said sounds and hos at coincident phases of the operation of the timing device thereby causing the luminous flashes produced by the emitted sounds and their echos to coincide on the scale, means for indicating and measuring the angular displacement of the adjustable member to produce such phase coincidence as a function of the distance to be measured.

' 3. Distance measuring apparatus of the class flashes. upon said scale to indicate the emitted sounds and their echos, an adjustable member associated with the timing device for permitting detections of said sounds and echos at coincident phases of the operation of the timing thereby causing the luminous flashes produced by emitted sounds and their echostocoincide on thescale means for indicating and measuring the angular displacement of the adjustable memher to produce such phase coincidence as a function of the distance to be measured.

4, Distance measuring apparatus of the class described comprising in combination an electrl nature may be emflashes upon said scale to indicate the emitted sounds and their echos, an adjustable member associated with the timing device for permitting detections of said sounds and echos at coincident phases of the operation of the timing device thereby causing the luminous flashes produced by the emitted sounds and their echos to coincide on the scale, means for indicating and measuring the angular displacement of the adjustable member to produce such phase coinci-' dence as a function of the distance 'to be measured.

5. Distance measuring apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a sound emitter, a timing device causing repetition of the emitted sounds at uniform intervals, a circular translucent scale, a shaft rotating at constant speed, a galvanometer carried by said shaft, a shunt circuit for relieving the galvanometer of sudden impulses produced'by the sound emitter, a microphone actuated by the emitted sounds and their echos thereby causing the oscillograph to throw luminous indicator flashes upon the scale thereby detecting the sounds and echos, an adjustable member associated with the timing device for permitting detections of said sounds and echos at coincident phases of the operation of the timing device thereby causing the luminous flashes produced by the emitted sounds and their echos to coincide'on the scale,

means for indicating and measuring the angular displacement of the adjustable member to produce such phase coincidence as a function of thedistance to be measured. v

6. Distance measuring apparatus of the clas described comprising in combination an electrical circuit for producing emitted sounds, a timing device'in said circuit for producing said sounds at uniform intervals, a receiver circuit including a microphone and a galvanometer for detecting the emitted sounds and their echos, a shunt circuit for relieving the galvanometer of sudden impulses produced by the sound emitter, a circular translucent scale, means operated by said alvanometer for projecting luminous flashes upon said scale to indicate the emitted sounds and theirechos, an adjustable member associated with the timing device for permitting detections of said sounds and echos at 00- incident phases of the operation of the timing device thereby causing the luminous flashes produced by emitted sounds and their echos to coincide on the scale, means for indicating and measuring'the angular displacement of the adjustable member to produce such phase coincidence as a function of the distance to .be measured. 4

"7. Distance measuring apparatus of the class described comprising in combination an electrical circuit for producing emitted sounds, a timing device in said circuit for producing said sounds at uniform intervals, a receiving circuit including a microphone and a galvanometer for detecting the emitted sounds and their echos, a shunt circuit for relieving the galvanometer'of sudden axis perpendicular to that of said constant speed impulses produced by the sound emitter, a circular translucent scale, a constant speed member upon which said galvanometer is mounted, a mirror oscillated by said galvanometer about an member to project luminous flashes upon said scale to indicate the 'emitted sounds and their echos, an adjustable member associated with the timing 'device for permitting detections of said sounds and echosat coincident phases of the operation of the timing device thereby causingthe luminous flashes produced by the emitted sounds and their echos to coincide on the scale, means microphone actuated by the emitted sounds and their echos thereby causing the galvanometer to throw luminous indicator flashes upon the scale thereby detect'ng the sounds and echos, an

adjustable member associated with the timing device for permitting'detections of said sounds and echos at coincident pha es of the operation of the timing device thereby causing the luminous flashes produced by the emitted sounds and their echos to coincide on the scale, means for indi cating and measuring the'angular displacement of the adjustable member to produce such phase coincidence as a function of the distance to be measured.

9. Distance measuring apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a sound emitter, a timing device causing repetition of the emitted sounds at uniform intervals, a circular translucent scale, a shaft rotating at constant speed, a mirror in the form of a total reflection prism, a galvanometer carried by said shaft, a source of light, a second mirror revolvable with said shaft and oscillatable by means of the galvanometer about an axis perpendicular to that of the shaft, amicrophone actuated by the emitted sounds and their echos thereby causing the galvanometer tothrow luminous indicator flashes upon the scale thereby detecting the sounds and echos,,an adjustable member associated with the timing device for permitting detectionsof-said sounds and echos at coincident phases of the described comprising in combination an electrical circuit for producing emittedsounds, a timing 5 device in said circuit for producin said sounds at uniform intervals a receiver circuit including a microphone and a galvanometer for detecting the emitted sounds and their echos, a circular translucent scale, a mirror in the form of a total reflection prism, a source of light, a mirror revolvable with said shaft and oscillatable by means of the galvanometer about an axis perpendicular to that of the shaft for projecting I coincide on the scale, means for indicating and measuring the angular displacement of the adjustable member to produce such phase coincidence as a function of the distance to be measured.

ANDRE EUGENE BLONDEL. 

